clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Adam LaRoche announces he intends to retire from baseball

The 13-year veteran of Major League Baseball surprised everyone with his decision to walk away from baseball for "personal reasons". He is taking a few days to think it over but his mind appears pretty set.

By Magnus Elhardt
Adam LaRoche after hitting a three run home run against the Mets in 2014.
Adam LaRoche after hitting a three run home run against the Mets in 2014.
Greg Fiume/Getty Images

It will be a few days before we get more details on what prompted this decision, but Adam LaRoche has again been dealing with health issues, including back spasms, this spring as he is in camp with the Chicago White Sox. He took Monday off to allow him to step back as he wrestled with what to do, then gathered his teammates on Tuesday to make the announcement. Reports are that he has firmly made his mind up to retire but LaRoche says he has promised to take a few days to reconsider before announcing a final decision.

LaRoche is in the middle of a two year $25 million contract with the White Sox. He is expected to be leaving roughly $13 million on the table if he walks away from his contract.

His four seasons with the Nationals were a mixed bag but included many high points of his career. A torn labrum in his shoulder derailed his 2011 campaign, but he bounced back and put up career numbers in 2012 with 33 home runs and 100 RBIs, a Silver Slugger award and a Gold Glove award. His 2013 was a down year but he once again came back strong in 2014. The Nationals ended up declining his option for 2015 because they needed a home at first base for Ryan Zimmerman

He ended up playing exactly 2000 plate appearances for the Nationals (7th most for the modern DC franchise) and hit 82 home runs for the team (4th most). He helped create a lot of great memories for Nationals fans.

LaRoche has plenty to look forward to if this is truly the end of his baseball career. He has two children with his wife Jennifer. Adam owns a ranch in Kansas with his brothers where super healthy cows are raised to become super healthy steaks. He named it the E3 Ranch in a nod to his time in baseball. He also loves to hunt and is involved with in the celebrity friend hunting enterprise Buck Commander.

We here at Federal Baseball wish Adam LaRoche a happy retirement and thank him for all his hard work here in DC and all the fireworks he gave us!

More From Federal Baseball